WIRE WORM

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 68, Issue 140, 25 March 1948, Page 2

WIRE WORM

Attack on Field Crop of Turnips FIRST KNOWN CASE Officers of the entomological station, Princes Street, report that a species of wire worm has attacked a crop of young turnips at Winchmore. This is the first known, case in New Zealand of wire worm attacking a field crop. No proved method of dealing with wire worm attacking field crops is known, but the officers have applied the following three experimental treatments: — (1) D.D.T.; (2) benzene hexachloride; (3) sawdust treated with dichlorethyl ether. The first named two are in the form of duet, and have been drilled, mixed with super, into the paddock, the farmer resowing the bare patches at the same time. About 25 per cent of the crop had been destroyed by the wire worm. The third treatment was also drilled into the paddock, an ordinary farming implement being used to make the operation ' economical. Some time will elapse before it is known if the treatments were successful. The wire worms eat the roots .and tap root through about an inch below the ground. , The wire-worm destroying the turnips is a -smdller species than that which attacks potatoes; tobacco seedlings, etc., and is thought to have been introduced into tbe area. The life cycle of this particular species is not known, and the officers at the entomological station are rearing specimens in the laboratory. The wireworm reseihbles a short piece of rusty wire. Only the one case of wire-worm attacking field crops has been reported.

Grass Grub

So far this season there has been no grass grub or porina (subterranean grass caterpillar) damage reported, although in the heavier soil porina dam- , age may be again showing by midApril. The effect of grass grub feeding / will probably not. ehow up until a month later than last year, because of the very dry weather following the flight season of both insects. '

Improvements to Station

Advice has been received from the Public Works Department that tenders will be called for alternations and additions to the station in the very near future. . ••• , ‘ . •